Key case



A. N. HANNA Feb. 25, 1941.

KEY CASE Filed April 30, 1940 www TTORNEY Patented Feb. 25, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE KEY OASE Y Atto N. Hanna, Newark, N. J.

Application April 30, 1940, Serial No. 332,431

9 Claims. (Cl. 'l0-456) The invention relates to key cas-es, and moreparticularly to key cases of the type in which the keys are carried bysplit rings pivotally mounted upon a metal tting secured to anenveloping case of flexible material.

Key cases of the type to which the invention relates have' been;extensively used for many years. The envelope of flexible material,usually of leather or a leather substitute,` enclosed the hooksupporting iitting and the various keys upon the hooks, so as to protectthe pockets of the user of a case while permitting convenience in theselection of any key'within the case.

In most key cases heretofore used, the hooks were permanently assembledin relation to the tting, keys being placed in and removed from the caseby flexing the material ofthe hook. In some key cases heretofore used,the hooks were removably mounted in relation to the fitting, retainingmeans being provided to prevent the accidental escape of any'hook andits contained key. In such cases, however, the construction was such asto make the removal of the hooks an awkward operation. Furthermore, theoperative mechanisms of the retaining means were exposed, and there wasgreat likelihood of a dis-`Y arrangement or loss of parts because ofthis.

With the aboveconditions in mind, I have provided a key case in whichthe fitting supporting the various hooks may be quickly and economicallyformed of thin gauge sheet metal. The fitting is of a form which willfacilitate not only the mounting and removal of the various hooks `inrelation thereto, but which will impart the necessary degree of rigiditythroughout the entire fitting. The 'arrangement of parts is such as toconceal and retain all of the parts operative to retain the varioushooks in relation to said fitting, and `permit the convenient mountingand removal of any selected hook without disturbing other hooks.

The retaining means is so constructed and lo- -cated asnot only to beco-ncealed when various slots, by means of which hooks are retained inthe fitting, are closed to prevent the escape of any of the hooks, butto prevent any part of any hook from interfering With the free operationof this retaining means.

A spring acts upon the retaining means with a tendency to move it out ofoperative relation to the various hooks, and movement of said means bythe spring is controlled by a latch mechanism manually actuated torelease the retaining means, but automatically` operated when this meansis moved into a position to close the various slots in the fitting. Aspring is provided to `permit this automatic action and to hold thelatch in a position to retain this means in its closed position, exceptwhen its movement is desired for the purpose of removing any hook with 5its contained key from the fitting, or to facilitate the use of the key,or permit the mounting of a key in, or its removal from, a hook.

Each hook is so constructed that it may have a free swinging and pivotalmovement in rela l1Q tion to the fitting, and preferably the opening in.the hook is so positioned that the walls of a slot in which the hook ismounted will prevent accidental openingof a hook and the possibility ofthe loss of a key therefrom. ,l5

The construction and arrangement of the various parts of a key caseembodying the invention are such as to permit the production of thefitting of inexpensive sheet metal material, the `useof a minimum numberof parts, and a con- 20 venient and rapid assembling of the parts.

The invention consists primarily in a key case embodying therein a metalfitting having a back plate adapted to be secured to an envelope offlexible material, a trough formed along one edge .f2.5 of said backplate, one edge portion` of the material of this trough being formedoutwardly and toward, but spaced from, said back plate and having aplurality of slots therethrough, a retaining plate having a flangeadapted to close 30 the space between said slotted edge portion and saidback plate, means pivotally supporting said retaining plate adjacent oneend of said trough,

a spring biased to move said plate out of said trough,l and a `springactuated latcli' member 35 movably mounted adjacent the other end ofsaid trough, said retaining plate having a socket adjacent the free endthereof, and said latch member `having a bolt head adapted to enter saidsocket; and in such other novel features of con- 340 struction andcombinationof parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and moreparticularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a view of a key case embodying the in- S45 vention, withportions of the envelope broken away;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, upon. a'larger scale, with partsbroken away to disclosethe `various mechanisms controlling the retainingplate; 50

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 upon an enlarged scale vFig. 4 is a view from the top of Fig. l2 with a `portion ofthe `flangeofthe retainingpl-ate broken Y away;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the latch end of the fittings; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a key hook in the open position for thereception of a key.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, the flexible enveloping casing is shown atI0. Secured to this casing, in any desired manner, as by means of rivetsII, is a sheet metal fitting comprising a back plate I2 having along oneedge thereof a troughed portion formed by bending an integral part ofthe blank including the back plate I2, as indicated at I3. 'Ihe freeedge of the part I3 is formed outwardly away from, and then toward theback plate in semi-cylindrical form, as shown at I4, the edge I5 of thisbent portion being spaced from the back plate I2 as shown in Figs. 3 and4 of the drawing.

'I'he rounded portion I4 is provided with a plurality of slots I6extending from adjacent the trough forming portion I 3 and openingoutwardly of the edge I5 of the portion I4.

As will more fully appear hereinafter, the purpose of spacing the edgel5 from the back plate I2 is to provide clearance for the mounting andremoval of key retaining hooks in the metal litting, and also providespace for a retaining plate closing the various slots I6 so as toprevent the escape of a key hook from the tting.

It is desirable to bring the edge I5 as close as possible to the backplate I2 so as to relieve the retaining plate from stresses tending toopen same while a key is in use. To secure this condition, I provide theend of each slot, adjacent the edge I5, with an enlargement I1, thedimensions of which are such as to permit an enlarged head of a key hookto enter or be withdrawn from, the semicylindrical portion I4.

To secure key hooks within the semi-cylindrical portion I4, I provide aretaining plate I8 adapted to pass between the edge of the slottedcylindrical portion I4 and the back plate I2, this plate being adaptedto enter the space between the turned portion I3 and the back plate I2forming the trough extending along one edge of the back plate.

The portion I3 is parallel with, and spaced from, the back plate adistance to afford space for the reception of the retaining plate I8,and is of a depth to accommodate this plate and also a spring mechanismoperative thereon and upon a latch mechanism co-operating therewith.

The plate I8 is pivotally supported adjacent one end of the trough, asby means of a pivot I9.

Projecting from one edge of the plate I8 is an overhanging iiange 20 ofa depth to overlay the edge portion I5 of the semi-cylindrical portionI4 and co-operate with the plate I8 in closing the ends of the slots I6,so as to prevent the escape of a key hook from the semi-cylindricalportion I4.

It will be noted that the portion of the semicylindrical portion I4adjacent the edge I5 is positioned between the enlarged head of a keyhook and the flange 2D, so that said flange and the plate I8 will besubject to no stresses as a result of pull upon the hook when a key isin use. Furthermore, this flange will prevent the distortion of anyring-like part of the semi-cylindrical portion formed by the Variousslots I6 as a result of such a pull upon the hook, so that no securingmeans for the free edge I5 of the Semi-cylindrical portion is necessary.

By utilizing the retaining plate as a reinforcement upon opposite sidesof each of the slots I6, the necessity for extreme accuracy in theformation of the fitting and additional assembling cost, are avoided.

The free end of the retaining plate I8 extends to adjacent the end ofthe trough opposite to that where this plate is pivotally supported.

Mounted adjacent this end of the trough is a latch member 2| having angerhold 22 at one end of the semi-cylindrical portion I4. The end ofthe portion I4 adjacent this fingerhold is chamfered at 23 (see Fig. 5)to permit the thumbnail to be inserted between this semi-cylindricalportion and the ngerhold 22. The latch member 2| is provided with a bolthead 24 having a rounded edge 25 positioned adjacent the fingerhold 22.

.The latch member 2| is mounted upon a pivot 26 passing through theportions I3 and I2.

The free end of the plate I8 is provided with a bolt socket 21, theportion of' the plate above this socket and adjacent the flange 2|]being rounded, as shown at 28, to provide clearance for the movement ofthe bolt head 24 into said socket, and to permit the flange 20 to beco-extensive in length with the semi-cylindrical portion I4. The loweredge of the retaining plate I8 is rounded, as shown at 29, to provide awedge-like portion co-operating with the rounded nose 25 of the bolthead forming a part of the latch member.

Secured within the trough between the portion I3 and the back plate I2is a forked spring, the free end of one arm 3D of which enters a springseat 3I in the latch member 2| below the pivot 26, in a manner to tendto force the bolt head 24 inwardly of the semi-cylindrical portion I4into engagement with the retaining plate I8. The other arm 32 of thisspring is arched, and the free end thereof, as shown at 33, engages thearm 30, so that lexure of the arm 3'2 toward the arm 3U will applytensioning pressure upon the latter arm and thus require flexure of botharms when actuating the latch member.

The spring arms 30 and 32 are formed from a single length of roundspring wire, and an eye is formed adjacent the juncture of the twospring arms by means of which the spring may be secured in place withinthe trough, either by means of a rivet, or by means of a depressionformed in the material of the portion I3 of the fitting or the baseplate I2, or both.

Mounted within the semi-cylindrical portion I4 by means of the variousslots I6 is a plurality of key hooks, by means of which keys may bemounted in the case. Such hooks may take a variety of different forms.Preferably, however, I employ hooks formed of spring metal having a loopsection 34 and having two arms 35 and 36. One of ythese arms, as 35, isprovided with a ball head 31 adapted to pass between the back plate andthe edge I5 of the semi-cylindrical portion, and to be seated in thissemi-cylindrical portion in a manner to permit a free swinging andswivelling movement of the hook. The inherent resiliency of the arm 36will cause the free end 38 thereof to engage the portion of the arm 35adjacent the ball, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, this arm beingcapable of being sprung away from the arm 38, as shown in Fig. 6, whenmounting a key in, or removing it from, the hook.

The ends of the arms 35 and 3B have a short parallel section and the end38 extends into abutting relation with the ball 31, so that when a hookis mounted in the semi-cylindrical portion I4, the walls of the slots IB will prevent accidental opening of the hook when pressure is eX- ertedon the hook by a key.

retaining plate is thus disengaged by the latch member, the spring arm32 will rotate the retaining plate about the pivot I9 to the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 2, and n dotted lines in Fig. 1. The `ball3l of a hook is then rested `against the back plate I2, and the arms 35and 36 inserted in a slot I6, so' that the Whole hook falls into theposition shown in Fig. 1.

When all of the hooksI have been assembled', the retaining plate isturned upon the pivot I9 until the flange 20 is engaged withthesemicylindrical portion I4 in overlapping relation to the portionthereof adjacent `the edge' I5. The thickness of the plate I8 issuiicient to prevent the escape of a hook between the edge I5 and theback plate.

When closing the retaining plate, the flange 20 will engage and overlaythe portion of the semi-cylindrical portion I4 and extend across theends of the various slots, as shown particularly in Fig. 3, thuseiiectively connning the various hooks.

As the plate is closed, the rounded portion 29 of the plate I8 engagesthe rounded portion 25 of the bolt head 24 and moves the latch member 2Iagainst the tension of the spring arm 30, until said rounded portion 29passes the bolt head 24 and permits the tension of the spring arm 30 tocause said Ibolt to enter the socket 21.

It will be noted that when the retaining plate is in the closedposition, -the spring arm 32 is engaged by one edge of this plate and'is tensioned during the nal closingymov'ement of the plate.Furthermore, the tensioning of the spring arm 32, by reason of itscurvedend portion 33, will also increase the tension of the arm 30 toward thespring seat 3l, which increased tension Will minimize likelihood ofaccidental movement ofthe latch member.

It will be noted that the retaining plate I3, when the latch member isreleased, is moved, inits entirety, out of operative relation to thesemicylindrical portion I4, so-that one hand 'is required only to holdthe case While the other hand is entirely free to insert the varioushooks in the semi-cylindrical portion I4, and there is no likelihood ofan accidental movement of the plate I8 in a manner to interfere with theplacing of the hooks in the fitting.

The spring arms 30 and 32, the latch member 2 l, except as to thengerhold 22, and the `retaining plate I8, when in the closed position,are all confinedwithin and protected by the Walls of the trough portion,and the Width of this trough is such as to prevent any displacementoisaid spring in relation to the parts with which it co-operates.

If it be desired to remove a hook 34 from the semi-cylindrical portionI4, to remove a key frein Aol any hook to be removed from thesemicylindrical portion I4, as shown in Fig. 5. The

cient to permit the ball 31 to escape below the. -edge I5 `of saidsemi-cylindrical portion, Which edge portion is fully exposed by theremoval of the ilange 20 from its position in `relation thereto. Byproviding an enlargement I1 adjacent the ends of each slot I5, it ispossible to bring the edge I5 close to the back plate I2 and to reducethe over-all thickness of the tting, but only to a limited extent. Y

When placinga key upon, or removing it from,

iremoval of the `plate I8 aiords clearance lsuiiia hook, it is merelynecessary to spring the arms y 'it and 3G, as indicated in Fig. 6.

When all of the hooks are in the fitting, they may be brought to anydesired position to permit the key to be positioned so as to permitflatnessV oi a closed case.

It is quite common for one carrying the case to Want toremove a key fromthe case so that it maybe used independently of the other keys inthecase. If it `be desired to remove ak key in this manner, theretaining plate I8 is actuated and the hook, With the key thereon, maythen be quickly removed from the case and, when the key is to berestored to the case, as quicklyresto-red thereto. i

A-key case embodying the invention comprises four pieces, aside from`the hooks and the various rivets, and the construction of these parts'is' such Aas to reduireV no precision Work in their production andpermit a rapid and convenient assembly of the metal tting.

The positioning of the plate I8 betWeenthe `semi-cylindrical portion I4and the back plate I2, and the overlaying of the edge of thesemicylindrical portion by the flange 20 not only ensures the ball 3lbeing positioned Within thev semi-cylindrical portion I4, but results inthe portion of the part I4 adjacent the edge` I5 thereof beingpositioned between this ball and the flange 2, s`o that the use of a.key Will not result in any stresses upon the ange 20, except thosetransmitted through the underlaying part of the portion I4.

The employment of a latch mechanism which Vis automatically `actuatedwhen closing the retaining plate, and the complete Withdrawal of saidretaining plate from its operative position in relation to the VportionI4, when it is desired to mount a key in orremove it from the fitting,permit a convenient handling of the hooks with `nol effort on the partAof the `user of the case,

an envelope of flexible material, a trough formed along one edge ofsaidback plate, one edge por- 'tion of the material of this trough beingformed outwardly and toward, but spaced from, said back plate and havinga plurality of slots therethrough, a retaining plate having a flangeadapted to close the space between said slotted edge portion and saidback plate, means pivotally supporting saidvretaining plate adjacent oneend of said trough, a spring biased to vmove said plate Aout or^ saidtrough, and a spring actuated latchmember movably 'mounted adjacent theother end of said trough, said retaining plate having a socket adjacentthe free end thereof, and said latch member havinga bolt head adapted toenter said socket.

2. A key case embodying therein a metal tting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of exible material, a trough formedalong one edge of said back plate, one edge portion of the material ofthis trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spaced from, saidback plate and having a plurality of slots therethrough, a retainingplate adapted to close the space between said slotted edge portion andsaid back plate and having a ange adapted to overlay said edge portion,means pivotally supporting said retaining plate adjacent one end of saidtrough, a spring biased to move said plate out of said trough, and aspring actuated latch member movably mounted adjacent the other end ofsaid trough, said retaining plate having a socket adjacent the free endthereof, and said latch member having a bolt head adapted to enter saidsocket.

3. A key case embodying therein a metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of flexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one edge portion of thematerial of this trough having a semicylindrical form with the free edgethereof -spaced from said back plate and having a plurality of slotstherethrough, a retaining plate having a flange adapted to close thespace between said slotted edge portion and said back plate, meanspivotally supporting said retaining plate adjacent one end of saidtrough, a spring biased to move said plate out of said trough, and aspring actuated latch member movably mounted adjacent the other end ofsaid trough, said retaining plate having a socket adjacent the free endthereof, and said latch member having a bolt head adapted to enter saidsocket.

4. A key case embodying therein a metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of flexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one edge portion of thematerial of this trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spacedfrom, said back plate and having a plurality of slot-s therethrough, aretaining plate having a flange adapted to close the space between saidslotted edge portion and said back plate, means pivotally supportingsaid retaining plate adjacent one end of said trough, said plate,adjacent the free end thereof, having a bolt socket therein, a latchmember having a bolt head adapted to enter said socket, a fmgerholdadjacent said bolt head, and a spring seat, pivotally mounted adjacentthe other end of said trough, and a spring having two arms seated andsecured within said trough, one of which arms acts upon said plate andthe other of which engages the spring seat upon said latch member.

5. A key case embodying therein a metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of flexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one

edge portion of the material of this trough being formed outwardly andtoward, but spaced from, said back plate and having a plurality of slotstherethrough, a retaining plate having a flange adapted to close thespace between said slotted edge portion and said back plate, meanspivotally supporting said retaining plate adjacent one end of saidtrough, a spring biased to move said plate out of said trough, and aspring actuated latch member movably mounted adjacent the other end ofsaid trough, said retaining plate having a socket and a wedge-likesurface adjacent the free end thereof, and said latch member having abolt hea-d adapted to enter said socket and having a wedge-like surfaceengageable by the wedge-like surface upon said' retaining plate, saidlatch member having a iingerhold adjacent said bolt head.

6. A key case embodying therein a metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of flexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one edge portion of thematerial of this trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spacedfrom, said back plate and having a plurality of slots therethrough, aretaining plate having a flange adapted to close the space between saidslotted edge portion and said back plate, means pivotally supportingsaid retaining plate adjacent one end of said trough, said plate,adjacent the free end thereof, having a bolt socket therein and awedge-like surface, a latch member having a bolt head adapted to entersaid socket and having a Wedge-like surface engageable by the wedge-likesurface upon said retaining plate, a flngerhold adjacent said bolt head,and aspringseat,pivotal ly mounted adjacent the other end of saidtrough, and a spring having two arms seated and secured within saidtrough, one of which arms acts upon said plate and the other of whichengages the spring seat upon said latch member.

'7. A key case embodying therein a metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of exible material, a trough formedalong one edge of said back plate, one edge p0rtion of the material ofthis trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spaced from, saidback plate and having a plurality of slots therethrough, a retainingplate having a flange adapted to close the space between said 4slottededge portion and said back plate, means pivotally supporting saidretaining plate adjacent o-ne end of said trough, said plate, adjacentthe free end thereof, having a bolt socket therein, a latch memberhaving a bolt head adapted to enter said socket, a ngerhold adjacentsaid bolt head, and a 'spring seat, pivotally mounted adjacent the otherend of said trough, and a spring having two arms seated land securedwithin said trough, one of which arms acts upon said plate and the otherof which engages the spring seat upon said latch member, the spring armengaging said plate having an arched end engaging the other spring armtoward said latch member, whereby tensioning pressure applied to eitherof said arms will apply tensioning pressure to the other of said arms.

8. A key case embodying therein a metal tting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of flexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one edge portion of thematerial of this trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spacedfrom, said back plate and having a plurality of slots therethrough, aretaining plate having a flange adapted to close the space between saidslotted edge portion and said back plate, means pivotally supportingsaid retaining plate adjacent one end of said trough, a spring biased tomove said plate out of said trough, a spring actuated latch membermovably mounted adjacent the other end of said trough, said retainingplate having a socket adjacent the free end thereof, and said latchmember having a bolt head adapted to enter said socket, and a splitkey-hook having a reduced portion adapted to have movement in one ofsaid slots and a ball at one end thereof adapted to be seated betweensaid outwardly formed edge portion and said retaining pil-ate, wherebysaid key-hook may have movement `along said slot, or a swivellingmovement.

9, A key case embodying therein Aa metal fitting having a back plateadapted to be secured to an envelope of ilexible material, a troughformed along one edge of said back plate, one edge portion oi thematerial ofthis trough being formed outwardly and toward, but spacedfrom, said back plate and having a plurality of slots therethrough, aretaining plate having a ange adapted to close the space between saidslotted edge portion and said back plate, means pivotally supportingsaid retaining plate adjacent one end of said trough, a spring biased tomove said plate out of said trough, a spring actuated latch membermovably mounted adjacent the other end of said trough, said retainingplate having a socket adjacent the free end thereof, and said latchmember having a bolt head adapted to enter said socket, and a split keyhook having two arms, one of which has a ball at the end thereof adaptedto be seated betweenl said outwardly formed edge portion and saidretaining plate, and the other arm of which extends to adjacent saidbal] but is unconnected therewith or with the other arm, both of saidarms being of a thickness to permit movement of the hook along saidslot, or a swivelling movement thereof.

ATTO N. HANNA.

